1 00:00:04,795 --> 00:00:23,595 Speaker 1: Countdown with Keith Olderman is a production of iHeartRadio. CNN 2 00:00:23,835 --> 00:00:28,595 Speaker 1: must fire its CEO Chris Lickt for birthing a journalistic 3 00:00:28,635 --> 00:00:34,035 Speaker 1: abomination unprecedented in American television history last night. Its new 4 00:00:34,075 --> 00:00:39,115 Speaker 1: owners must sell the CNN network, whose brand they irreparably 5 00:00:39,195 --> 00:00:44,795 Speaker 1: damaged last night. E Gene Carroll needs to sue Donald J. 6 00:00:45,035 --> 00:00:49,475 Speaker 1: Trump for the new defamatory comments he made about her 7 00:00:49,635 --> 00:00:55,275 Speaker 1: last night, and moderator Caitlin Collins needs to sue her 8 00:00:55,355 --> 00:01:01,115 Speaker 1: agent for ending her career last night. But most importantly, 9 00:01:01,515 --> 00:01:08,635 Speaker 1: most imperatively, all mainstream American news organizations must today solemnly 10 00:01:08,835 --> 00:01:13,115 Speaker 1: and unflinchingly look inward after what happened last night and 11 00:01:13,395 --> 00:01:17,635 Speaker 1: understand that if you simply assume as CNN did, that 12 00:01:17,715 --> 00:01:21,915 Speaker 1: if you apply the American journalistic rules of twenty fifty 13 00:01:22,035 --> 00:01:25,435 Speaker 1: or one hundred and fifty years ago to a presidential 14 00:01:25,475 --> 00:01:29,395 Speaker 1: candidate who will speak any lie, who will slander, any person, 15 00:01:29,875 --> 00:01:33,555 Speaker 1: who will manipulate any fear, who will betray any and 16 00:01:33,675 --> 00:01:40,635 Speaker 1: all aspects of democracy, you will inherit the wind. CNN 17 00:01:40,795 --> 00:01:44,555 Speaker 1: handed over seventy minutes of its prime time and all 18 00:01:44,595 --> 00:01:48,355 Speaker 1: of its remaining credibility to a madman to a criminal, 19 00:01:48,515 --> 00:01:51,315 Speaker 1: to a liar, to a would be dictator. Last night, 20 00:01:51,715 --> 00:01:56,115 Speaker 1: it gave him an audience of brain cult members who 21 00:01:56,155 --> 00:01:59,475 Speaker 1: gave him not one critical nor even less than fawning question. 22 00:01:59,995 --> 00:02:03,635 Speaker 1: It gave him a moderator whom he ignored, mocked, insulted, 23 00:02:03,875 --> 00:02:07,435 Speaker 1: lied to, lied about, and who in turn thought everything 24 00:02:07,435 --> 00:02:10,395 Speaker 1: would be fine if she simply responded to his lives 25 00:02:10,435 --> 00:02:15,635 Speaker 1: by saying, no, you're wrong. It was not a Trump 26 00:02:15,835 --> 00:02:20,315 Speaker 1: infomercial last night. It was not the same as Trump 27 00:02:20,355 --> 00:02:24,435 Speaker 1: on Newsmax. It was not like a Trump rally, because 28 00:02:24,475 --> 00:02:27,235 Speaker 1: despite all of the endless vomiting of hate and falsehoods 29 00:02:27,275 --> 00:02:31,635 Speaker 1: Trump can enact in those venues, infomercials and newsmas and 30 00:02:31,795 --> 00:02:35,995 Speaker 1: rallies carry with them the implied warning of hyperpartisanship and 31 00:02:36,075 --> 00:02:41,075 Speaker 1: the caveat of hyper showmanship. The so called CNN town 32 00:02:41,155 --> 00:02:45,675 Speaker 1: hall had all of those same nauseating and harrowing components 33 00:02:45,675 --> 00:02:48,715 Speaker 1: that so delight Trump and his cultists, and worst of all, 34 00:02:49,075 --> 00:02:53,755 Speaker 1: his enablers who know better. But CNN dressed them up, 35 00:02:54,555 --> 00:02:58,275 Speaker 1: dressed them up in a patina of authenticity, a possibility 36 00:02:58,355 --> 00:03:03,035 Speaker 1: of reality, a confused, naive hope that this time Trump 37 00:03:03,595 --> 00:03:07,795 Speaker 1: would be better or Trump would be exposed, or this 38 00:03:07,915 --> 00:03:12,595 Speaker 1: time Trump would be ruined, or this time Trump would 39 00:03:12,675 --> 00:03:18,995 Speaker 1: be stopped. Last night, CNN legitimized the lies and the 40 00:03:19,035 --> 00:03:23,235 Speaker 1: feral venom of Donald Trump, And for whatever shamed remorse 41 00:03:23,315 --> 00:03:25,915 Speaker 1: might leak out of that organization today or in the 42 00:03:25,995 --> 00:03:29,795 Speaker 1: days ahead, for whatever sober self reflection might be done 43 00:03:29,835 --> 00:03:32,115 Speaker 1: at the New York Times or the Washington Post or 44 00:03:32,155 --> 00:03:34,915 Speaker 1: the other outlets who may have now seen what happens 45 00:03:34,955 --> 00:03:38,115 Speaker 1: when you apply the laws of honest journalism in a 46 00:03:38,115 --> 00:03:40,835 Speaker 1: democracy to a man who will not and cannot even 47 00:03:40,955 --> 00:03:45,115 Speaker 1: consider honesty nor democracy. For whether or not some editor 48 00:03:45,195 --> 00:03:49,155 Speaker 1: really stops some writer writing. Trump lied to an abused 49 00:03:49,155 --> 00:03:52,195 Speaker 1: America for seventy minutes last night, here's why that's bad 50 00:03:52,235 --> 00:03:57,595 Speaker 1: news for Joe Biden. For whatever regret felt or lessened learned, 51 00:03:58,875 --> 00:04:02,275 Speaker 1: there will be others who will look at the ratings 52 00:04:02,475 --> 00:04:05,515 Speaker 1: as they come out later today, and we'll say, did 53 00:04:05,555 --> 00:04:09,635 Speaker 1: you see those numbers? We need to do something like 54 00:04:09,715 --> 00:04:16,075 Speaker 1: that as soon as possible. If you were smart enough 55 00:04:16,195 --> 00:04:18,395 Speaker 1: not to watch, I will try to spare you the 56 00:04:18,475 --> 00:04:22,995 Speaker 1: guts of truth and decency and America that Trump spilled 57 00:04:23,035 --> 00:04:26,835 Speaker 1: all over the CNN stage last night. I will quote 58 00:04:26,875 --> 00:04:29,915 Speaker 1: as little as necessary and instead give you a stark 59 00:04:29,955 --> 00:04:34,115 Speaker 1: and rapid inventory of what CNN let Trump inflict upon us. 60 00:04:34,435 --> 00:04:37,715 Speaker 1: But let me emphasize first the gravity and the dimensions 61 00:04:37,715 --> 00:04:42,715 Speaker 1: of this disaster. It was foreseeable. CNN was warned the 62 00:04:42,755 --> 00:04:47,995 Speaker 1: moderator was mediocre at best and indifferent at worst. But bluntly, 63 00:04:48,155 --> 00:04:51,315 Speaker 1: Edward R. Murrow would likely have been just as swamped 64 00:04:51,355 --> 00:04:54,755 Speaker 1: and bullied as she was, not merely by the lies, 65 00:04:55,715 --> 00:04:59,435 Speaker 1: but by the format CNN created, by the live format, 66 00:04:59,515 --> 00:05:04,475 Speaker 1: by the live environment, by the stacked fixed audience, by 67 00:05:04,515 --> 00:05:08,755 Speaker 1: the the entire concept that this Charlatan Chris licked personally 68 00:05:08,995 --> 00:05:13,075 Speaker 1: and boastfully devised. It was a battle she could not win. 69 00:05:13,635 --> 00:05:15,915 Speaker 1: It was a battle the network could not win. It 70 00:05:15,955 --> 00:05:20,915 Speaker 1: was a battle truth and journalism could not win. In short, 71 00:05:21,075 --> 00:05:28,715 Speaker 1: this for CNN was the Hindenburg to recap. Not ninety 72 00:05:28,715 --> 00:05:31,435 Speaker 1: seconds in CNN let Trump claim the twenty twenty election 73 00:05:31,555 --> 00:05:35,275 Speaker 1: was stolen. Moderator Collins interrupted and said it wasn't. Trump 74 00:05:35,315 --> 00:05:38,275 Speaker 1: ignored her and said it was rigged. She interrupted again. 75 00:05:38,555 --> 00:05:42,035 Speaker 1: Trump steamrollered her. She seemed shocked. He would not concede 76 00:05:42,035 --> 00:05:46,395 Speaker 1: he had lost. She seemed triumphant. When he wouldn't concede. 77 00:05:46,475 --> 00:05:49,635 Speaker 1: She queried him about the Egene Carol lawsuit and verdict. 78 00:05:49,915 --> 00:05:54,315 Speaker 1: CNN let him slander the woman he sexually abused. A 79 00:05:54,395 --> 00:05:57,315 Speaker 1: day after a jury found him guilty of defaming her, 80 00:05:57,595 --> 00:06:01,155 Speaker 1: he defamed her again. He called her a quote whack job. 81 00:06:01,995 --> 00:06:04,395 Speaker 1: He insisted he met her and took a photo with her, 82 00:06:04,475 --> 00:06:07,675 Speaker 1: and in the same sentence, he said he never met her. 83 00:06:08,355 --> 00:06:12,275 Speaker 1: The moderator did not even note the self contradiction, still 84 00:06:12,315 --> 00:06:15,995 Speaker 1: calling him mister President. The moderator asked him about January sixth. 85 00:06:16,715 --> 00:06:20,635 Speaker 1: CNN let Trump blame Nancy Pelosi. An audience member asked 86 00:06:20,635 --> 00:06:24,275 Speaker 1: if he'd pardon the January sixth participants, and he said 87 00:06:24,275 --> 00:06:27,115 Speaker 1: he intended to pardon most of them. He said January 88 00:06:27,115 --> 00:06:30,395 Speaker 1: sixth was a beautiful day. CNN Let him call the 89 00:06:30,435 --> 00:06:34,235 Speaker 1: African American police officer who shot the terrorist, Ashley Babbitt, 90 00:06:34,355 --> 00:06:39,915 Speaker 1: a quote thug. The moderator said nothing. Asked by an 91 00:06:39,955 --> 00:06:43,075 Speaker 1: audience member about the debt ceiling debate, CNN, let Trump 92 00:06:43,115 --> 00:06:46,755 Speaker 1: say the United States of America should default on its debts. 93 00:06:47,875 --> 00:06:50,755 Speaker 1: The moderator never mentioned his contributions to the national debt 94 00:06:51,555 --> 00:06:55,075 Speaker 1: CNN let Trump say women allowed stars to grab them 95 00:06:55,115 --> 00:06:58,315 Speaker 1: by the genitals. CNN let him boast about such sexual 96 00:06:58,355 --> 00:07:06,035 Speaker 1: assaults the audience CNN picked laughed and applauded abortions. CNN 97 00:07:06,115 --> 00:07:10,315 Speaker 1: let him claim he terminated Roe v Wade himself. CNN 98 00:07:10,395 --> 00:07:14,875 Speaker 1: let him claim Democrats are quote executing babies after they 99 00:07:14,875 --> 00:07:18,635 Speaker 1: have been born. The moderator said nothing. CNN selected an 100 00:07:18,675 --> 00:07:22,515 Speaker 1: audience member to ask a question about the mass gun shootings. 101 00:07:24,275 --> 00:07:26,355 Speaker 1: The questioner wanted to know what Trump would do to 102 00:07:26,395 --> 00:07:31,275 Speaker 1: protect gun rights and bump stocks. The moderator asked about 103 00:07:31,275 --> 00:07:35,315 Speaker 1: immigration and Title forty two and wondered how voters could 104 00:07:35,315 --> 00:07:38,155 Speaker 1: be sure that this time he would build the wall. 105 00:07:39,395 --> 00:07:42,715 Speaker 1: CNN let him claim that undocumented immigrants are living in 106 00:07:42,755 --> 00:07:46,435 Speaker 1: Central Park. CNN let him claim that fifteen million undocumented 107 00:07:46,435 --> 00:07:49,275 Speaker 1: immigrants will enter the country this year. CNN let him 108 00:07:49,275 --> 00:07:54,755 Speaker 1: blame his border family separation policy on President Obama. The 109 00:07:54,795 --> 00:07:57,955 Speaker 1: moderator asked him about Ukraine. CNN let him insist that 110 00:07:57,995 --> 00:08:00,875 Speaker 1: he would end the war in one day and did 111 00:08:00,915 --> 00:08:04,155 Speaker 1: not ask him how. CNN let him emphasize that his 112 00:08:04,195 --> 00:08:06,795 Speaker 1: only concern was that Europe was not paying as much 113 00:08:06,875 --> 00:08:10,755 Speaker 1: money for the war as the US is. The moderator 114 00:08:10,795 --> 00:08:13,155 Speaker 1: asked if he would call the war criminal Vladimir Putin 115 00:08:13,235 --> 00:08:16,075 Speaker 1: a war criminal. He would not call the war criminal 116 00:08:16,195 --> 00:08:20,035 Speaker 1: Vladimir Putin a war criminal. CNN let him lie about 117 00:08:20,035 --> 00:08:22,995 Speaker 1: the Presidential Records Act. CNN, then let him lie about 118 00:08:22,995 --> 00:08:26,035 Speaker 1: the marri Lago documents story. CNN, then let him lie 119 00:08:26,035 --> 00:08:28,235 Speaker 1: about what he asked about in the Georgia phone call, 120 00:08:28,555 --> 00:08:31,595 Speaker 1: and CNN closed by asking him if he'd commit to 121 00:08:32,715 --> 00:08:35,755 Speaker 1: accepting the outcome of the twenty twenty four election, even 122 00:08:35,795 --> 00:08:39,395 Speaker 1: though when asked that in twenty sixteen, he said only 123 00:08:39,475 --> 00:08:41,995 Speaker 1: if he thought it was honest, and even though when 124 00:08:42,035 --> 00:08:44,075 Speaker 1: I asked that in twenty twenty, he said only if 125 00:08:44,075 --> 00:08:46,515 Speaker 1: he thought it was honest, and shockingly, his reply about 126 00:08:46,675 --> 00:08:52,595 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four was only if he thought it was honest. 127 00:08:53,275 --> 00:08:57,675 Speaker 1: Now to the consequences, there was no pushback from other 128 00:08:57,755 --> 00:09:00,595 Speaker 1: CNN figures in the hours leading up to the broadcast. 129 00:09:01,035 --> 00:09:06,355 Speaker 1: Wolf Flitzer, Jeff Zeleny, Jamie Gangel, Coats, Jonah Goldberg and 130 00:09:06,475 --> 00:09:13,835 Speaker 1: others participated naively and credulously in advance Afterwards, Anderson Cooper 131 00:09:13,835 --> 00:09:17,795 Speaker 1: and Jake Tapper, Abby Philip Dana Bash, John King, Audie 132 00:09:17,875 --> 00:09:22,995 Speaker 1: Cornish and others looked and even sounded astonished that it 133 00:09:23,035 --> 00:09:26,475 Speaker 1: had really happened that way, even though that was the 134 00:09:26,515 --> 00:09:29,075 Speaker 1: only way it could happen, the only way it could 135 00:09:29,115 --> 00:09:34,315 Speaker 1: ever happen. There was an occasional moment when Tapper seemed angry. 136 00:09:34,915 --> 00:09:39,115 Speaker 1: Not one of them, not one of them criticized CNN, 137 00:09:39,435 --> 00:09:42,595 Speaker 1: not one of them even hinted at questioning just the 138 00:09:42,715 --> 00:09:47,915 Speaker 1: gravely disastrous decision to put this atrocity on live, or 139 00:09:47,955 --> 00:09:52,395 Speaker 1: on without real time fact checking, or with an audience, 140 00:09:52,755 --> 00:09:59,355 Speaker 1: or on at all. As to the moderator, Ms. Collins, 141 00:10:00,315 --> 00:10:04,875 Speaker 1: she was off in wooden, flat, robotic, ineffective, and as 142 00:10:04,915 --> 00:10:09,835 Speaker 1: I said earlier, it doesn't matter. Trump told his labyrinthine, 143 00:10:09,875 --> 00:10:15,635 Speaker 1: nonsensical lies in his unfinished sentences, and she said, placidly, 144 00:10:15,715 --> 00:10:18,955 Speaker 1: but that's not true, mister president. And he simply interrupted 145 00:10:18,955 --> 00:10:21,195 Speaker 1: her and told a new lie, and she said, placidly, 146 00:10:21,515 --> 00:10:23,915 Speaker 1: but that's not true, mister president. And this seemed to 147 00:10:23,915 --> 00:10:29,155 Speaker 1: go on forever. There had been some question that, given 148 00:10:29,195 --> 00:10:32,435 Speaker 1: her background as a writer for Tucker Carlson's Daily Caller site, 149 00:10:32,955 --> 00:10:37,075 Speaker 1: where she once mocked both waterboarding and charity fundraising for 150 00:10:37,195 --> 00:10:40,835 Speaker 1: als in the same article, whether Collins had been chosen 151 00:10:40,915 --> 00:10:45,675 Speaker 1: because she would not succeed in thwarting Trump. Ultimately, that 152 00:10:46,155 --> 00:10:50,555 Speaker 1: doesn't matter. Trump's pre broadcast claims that CNN gave him 153 00:10:50,555 --> 00:10:54,155 Speaker 1: a deal he had to take may soon be analyzed 154 00:10:54,675 --> 00:10:59,915 Speaker 1: in the way the Federal Aviation Administration analyzes a crash. However, 155 00:11:00,355 --> 00:11:02,715 Speaker 1: I told you last week that Caitlyn Collins would be 156 00:11:02,755 --> 00:11:06,995 Speaker 1: rewarded for participating in this monstrosity by being given a 157 00:11:07,035 --> 00:11:10,435 Speaker 1: primetime show on CNN. I had calculated it would be 158 00:11:10,475 --> 00:11:14,435 Speaker 1: at eight PM. Literally three hours before Trump went on, 159 00:11:15,315 --> 00:11:18,195 Speaker 1: it leaked to Puck News that Chrislick would in fact 160 00:11:18,275 --> 00:11:22,235 Speaker 1: be offering her the nine PM program. She might now 161 00:11:22,235 --> 00:11:25,235 Speaker 1: want to think twice, but that two doesn't matter. She 162 00:11:26,155 --> 00:11:32,915 Speaker 1: will never live last night down. If you are wondering 163 00:11:34,235 --> 00:11:37,515 Speaker 1: what from my high horse it is that I could 164 00:11:37,595 --> 00:11:40,515 Speaker 1: possibly be expecting now from CNN employees. If I could 165 00:11:40,555 --> 00:11:45,755 Speaker 1: really believe, after nearly fifty years of doing this, that 166 00:11:45,875 --> 00:11:50,835 Speaker 1: CNN employees should criticize CNN management or even hint at 167 00:11:50,875 --> 00:11:54,595 Speaker 1: the dimensions and irreversibility of this disaster, I would like 168 00:11:54,635 --> 00:11:58,235 Speaker 1: to point one thing out. In two thousand and eight, 169 00:11:58,315 --> 00:12:02,475 Speaker 1: I was co anchoring MSNBC's coverage of the Republican National convention. 170 00:12:02,915 --> 00:12:06,515 Speaker 1: We at the convention, producers cut to what was described 171 00:12:06,515 --> 00:12:09,155 Speaker 1: in the rundown as a tribute to the victims of 172 00:12:09,275 --> 00:12:13,355 Speaker 1: nine to eleven. It was in fact a snuff film, 173 00:12:13,515 --> 00:12:16,555 Speaker 1: a pre produced video now running on our air, on 174 00:12:16,715 --> 00:12:20,275 Speaker 1: CNN on other networks, showing all of the video that 175 00:12:20,395 --> 00:12:25,475 Speaker 1: our networks had stopped showing literally days after the terrorist 176 00:12:25,475 --> 00:12:28,835 Speaker 1: attacks because it was just too graphic. It showed people 177 00:12:28,915 --> 00:12:32,795 Speaker 1: jumping from the twin towers, only this time at the 178 00:12:32,835 --> 00:12:36,395 Speaker 1: Republican convention, it showed those people jumping to their deaths, 179 00:12:36,435 --> 00:12:39,915 Speaker 1: with narration that indicated that voting for Democrats meant this 180 00:12:39,955 --> 00:12:45,155 Speaker 1: would happen again. When it was over, they came back 181 00:12:45,195 --> 00:12:47,155 Speaker 1: to me on camera and I said that the network 182 00:12:47,195 --> 00:12:50,115 Speaker 1: had been unaware that that was what the Republicans meant 183 00:12:50,115 --> 00:12:53,075 Speaker 1: by a tribute to the victims of nine to eleven. 184 00:12:53,115 --> 00:12:55,755 Speaker 1: And I said, if MSNBC had chosen to show that 185 00:12:55,915 --> 00:12:58,795 Speaker 1: video to you without warning, I would have felt compelled 186 00:12:58,795 --> 00:13:03,515 Speaker 1: to apologize to you. That's what I said. I was punished. 187 00:13:03,955 --> 00:13:06,955 Speaker 1: They took me off co anchoring the presidential debates. They 188 00:13:07,115 --> 00:13:10,475 Speaker 1: humiliated me. Accordingly, I felt that day it was worth it. 189 00:13:10,635 --> 00:13:12,955 Speaker 1: I have felt that way ever since. And today it 190 00:13:13,035 --> 00:13:14,595 Speaker 1: is one of the things I am most proud of 191 00:13:14,915 --> 00:13:20,835 Speaker 1: in my life. And nothing like that has happened from CNN, 192 00:13:21,235 --> 00:13:26,275 Speaker 1: nothing close, and more importantly than that, CNN had an 193 00:13:26,315 --> 00:13:32,635 Speaker 1: opportunity to preemptively protect itself from the tsunami of criticism 194 00:13:32,635 --> 00:13:35,715 Speaker 1: that began at literally eight two pm Eastern daylight time 195 00:13:35,795 --> 00:13:39,275 Speaker 1: last night and will at least metaphorically never come to 196 00:13:39,315 --> 00:13:44,275 Speaker 1: an end. One of CNN's own contributors, the January sixth, 197 00:13:44,315 --> 00:13:48,755 Speaker 1: hero and victim former officer Michael Fanone wrote an op 198 00:13:48,955 --> 00:13:53,475 Speaker 1: ed criticizing the network and even leaving out Licht's name 199 00:13:53,875 --> 00:13:56,795 Speaker 1: for scheduling this event in the first place. Chris Lickt 200 00:13:56,875 --> 00:14:00,795 Speaker 1: refused to publish it on the CNN website. The new 201 00:14:00,955 --> 00:14:05,235 Speaker 1: era of even handedness of all sign it's having a 202 00:14:05,315 --> 00:14:09,435 Speaker 1: voice at CNN. A balance of re establishing the old 203 00:14:09,595 --> 00:14:14,315 Speaker 1: CNN begins with Chris Lickt silencing even a tiny fig 204 00:14:14,435 --> 00:14:20,515 Speaker 1: leaf of criticism of Chris Lickt and CNN and Trump. 205 00:14:21,955 --> 00:14:25,995 Speaker 1: Fhanone's piece did run yesterday on Rolling Stone's website. It 206 00:14:26,075 --> 00:14:29,955 Speaker 1: is strong, and it is negative, and it is nothing 207 00:14:30,115 --> 00:14:33,875 Speaker 1: that a legitimate news organization could not withstand easily, Nothing 208 00:14:33,875 --> 00:14:36,755 Speaker 1: that a legitimate news organization would not have been applauded 209 00:14:36,795 --> 00:14:40,475 Speaker 1: for having had the open mindedness to publish, except if 210 00:14:40,515 --> 00:14:45,195 Speaker 1: that organization is Chris Licht's CNN. After the network imploded 211 00:14:45,275 --> 00:14:48,755 Speaker 1: last night, it could have used Fanone's piece as one small, 212 00:14:49,355 --> 00:14:53,995 Speaker 1: dissenting and correct voice. Let me read just a little 213 00:14:54,075 --> 00:14:57,275 Speaker 1: of what fanone wrote and recommend you read the rest 214 00:14:57,275 --> 00:15:01,595 Speaker 1: of it at Rollingstone dot com. Quote. In a recent 215 00:15:01,635 --> 00:15:05,275 Speaker 1: trip to CNN's Washington, DC bureau, I sat silently in 216 00:15:05,315 --> 00:15:09,115 Speaker 1: the green room as guests, anchors, and employees filtered through 217 00:15:09,155 --> 00:15:13,715 Speaker 1: and clamored about how outrageous it was that CBS would 218 00:15:13,715 --> 00:15:17,795 Speaker 1: give Marjorie Taylor Green an interview on its prestigious sixty 219 00:15:17,835 --> 00:15:23,235 Speaker 1: minute series. Good question. I hope my fellow CNN employees 220 00:15:23,275 --> 00:15:25,715 Speaker 1: have the balls to raise those same questions with the 221 00:15:25,715 --> 00:15:31,035 Speaker 1: network executives, continuing from finone. In the past, CNN has 222 00:15:31,075 --> 00:15:35,595 Speaker 1: recognized the dangers of allowing election deniers a public platform 223 00:15:35,795 --> 00:15:39,675 Speaker 1: and would not allow them on air under new quote 224 00:15:39,755 --> 00:15:43,835 Speaker 1: leadership end quote. That policy has been discarded, as evidenced 225 00:15:43,835 --> 00:15:47,355 Speaker 1: by CNN's decision to allow the chief election denier, former 226 00:15:47,395 --> 00:15:50,955 Speaker 1: President Trump, a prominent time slot in its evening lineup, 227 00:15:51,435 --> 00:15:54,435 Speaker 1: as if Trump were a normal candidate who had not 228 00:15:54,595 --> 00:16:00,915 Speaker 1: attempted to steal an election by force. Fanone continued. In 229 00:16:00,955 --> 00:16:04,155 Speaker 1: the wake of January sixth, Trump's ability to communicate to 230 00:16:04,195 --> 00:16:07,955 Speaker 1: the masses was essentially stripped away from him. Twitter banned 231 00:16:08,035 --> 00:16:11,635 Speaker 1: him for life, no major media outlets would have him on. 232 00:16:12,595 --> 00:16:17,755 Speaker 1: So what has changed? Panone answered his own question. I 233 00:16:17,795 --> 00:16:21,275 Speaker 1: don't believe for one second that this is about journalistic integrity. 234 00:16:21,675 --> 00:16:25,275 Speaker 1: It's about ratings and money. Sometimes things are exactly as 235 00:16:25,355 --> 00:16:27,955 Speaker 1: they appear, and this appears to be an attempt by 236 00:16:27,955 --> 00:16:31,195 Speaker 1: a major media outlet struggling with its ratings to attract 237 00:16:31,475 --> 00:16:36,395 Speaker 1: disenfranchised viewers. To me, allowing Trump an open forum on 238 00:16:36,475 --> 00:16:40,035 Speaker 1: a major television news network is the moral equivalent of 239 00:16:40,075 --> 00:16:44,755 Speaker 1: putting an AR fifteen in the hands of someone mentally unstable, 240 00:16:45,595 --> 00:16:49,115 Speaker 1: whether words or bullets, and I have seen firsthand the 241 00:16:49,155 --> 00:16:53,075 Speaker 1: effects of both. They are equally dangerous in the mouths 242 00:16:53,195 --> 00:16:56,675 Speaker 1: or hands of those who have shown us time and 243 00:16:56,755 --> 00:17:05,515 Speaker 1: time again what their true intentions are. End quote. Michael 244 00:17:05,555 --> 00:17:08,875 Speaker 1: Fanone was wrong, I think, in one respect only that 245 00:17:09,235 --> 00:17:14,515 Speaker 1: last night was not handing Trump a metaphorical AR fifteen. 246 00:17:16,755 --> 00:17:20,395 Speaker 1: It was handing him a dozen of. 247 00:17:20,235 --> 00:17:36,275 Speaker 2: Them still ahead on this edition of Countdown. 248 00:17:36,435 --> 00:17:39,635 Speaker 1: George Santos has been indicted. And you know all those 249 00:17:39,675 --> 00:17:42,475 Speaker 1: other different names in there, and that he called himself 250 00:17:42,675 --> 00:17:48,235 Speaker 1: Anthony Devolder, Katara Rivash. If he's convicted on all these 251 00:17:48,355 --> 00:17:51,715 Speaker 1: charges and gets the maximum sentence for each, all three 252 00:17:51,755 --> 00:17:55,555 Speaker 1: of them could each get life sentences. So a college 253 00:17:55,595 --> 00:17:58,315 Speaker 1: basketball coach at the top echelon of his sport for 254 00:17:58,355 --> 00:18:01,795 Speaker 1: thirty years, goes on a hate speech radio show, drops 255 00:18:01,835 --> 00:18:05,635 Speaker 1: a homophobic slur, then repeats the slur and uses as 256 00:18:05,675 --> 00:18:09,555 Speaker 1: an adjective for it the word catholic. So it came 257 00:18:09,595 --> 00:18:14,835 Speaker 1: out catholic blanks. He's been fired? Right? Oh no, he hasn't. 258 00:18:15,795 --> 00:18:17,475 Speaker 1: And when was the last time you heard about a 259 00:18:17,555 --> 00:18:21,195 Speaker 1: radio disc jockey threatening to get the radio sportscaster fired 260 00:18:21,395 --> 00:18:26,075 Speaker 1: during their show. This is an especially interesting question considering 261 00:18:26,115 --> 00:18:31,155 Speaker 1: the radio sportscaster in this equation was me. That's next. 262 00:18:31,195 --> 00:18:40,915 Speaker 1: This is his countdown. This is Countdown with Keith Olberman. 263 00:18:45,435 --> 00:18:49,035 Speaker 1: Postscripts to the news, some headlines, some updates, some snark, 264 00:18:49,155 --> 00:18:52,755 Speaker 1: some predictions, state line, Central Icelip, Long Island, New York 265 00:18:53,355 --> 00:18:58,075 Speaker 1: Congressman George Santos was indeed indicted on a whopping thirteen counts, 266 00:18:58,675 --> 00:19:01,995 Speaker 1: seven for wire fraud, for taking unemployment money during the 267 00:19:02,035 --> 00:19:05,355 Speaker 1: pandemic even though he was unemployed, and can continuing to 268 00:19:05,435 --> 00:19:09,195 Speaker 1: confirm to authorities each time they asked that he was 269 00:19:09,275 --> 00:19:13,275 Speaker 1: unemployed when in fact he was employed. Conviction and max 270 00:19:13,355 --> 00:19:16,355 Speaker 1: sentence on those seven counts alone could get him one 271 00:19:16,435 --> 00:19:20,275 Speaker 1: hundred and forty years in prison. He's not resigning, he 272 00:19:20,315 --> 00:19:23,875 Speaker 1: didn't flee, and he's insisting it's a witch hunt. Oh 273 00:19:23,955 --> 00:19:27,115 Speaker 1: now he's a witch too. He's also not making a 274 00:19:27,155 --> 00:19:30,315 Speaker 1: plea deal and Biden this and the undertone here of 275 00:19:30,355 --> 00:19:33,755 Speaker 1: a man who has never been held accountable for anything 276 00:19:33,795 --> 00:19:39,435 Speaker 1: in his life. Two postscripts. Santos pleaded not guilty. What 277 00:19:39,475 --> 00:19:42,555 Speaker 1: you expected him not to lie about? This too? And 278 00:19:42,675 --> 00:19:45,035 Speaker 1: you have to give him credit given the hundreds of 279 00:19:45,115 --> 00:19:50,395 Speaker 1: lies already written about it is actually spectacular that George 280 00:19:50,475 --> 00:19:55,235 Speaker 1: Santos managed to get himself indicted for lies we did 281 00:19:55,275 --> 00:20:18,955 Speaker 1: not already know about. Thank you, Nancy Faust, dateline, Washington. 282 00:20:19,155 --> 00:20:23,475 Speaker 1: Oh there she is, Dianne Feinstein has actually been seen 283 00:20:23,635 --> 00:20:26,955 Speaker 1: in the district of Columbia. She was there yesterday after 284 00:20:26,995 --> 00:20:31,315 Speaker 1: an absence of let me figure this out. What century 285 00:20:31,395 --> 00:20:36,355 Speaker 1: is this first day back since February first public comments 286 00:20:36,555 --> 00:20:41,795 Speaker 1: quote hi everybody unquote, and on her first day back, 287 00:20:42,235 --> 00:20:59,995 Speaker 1: she missed another vote. This is Sports Center. Wait, check 288 00:21:00,035 --> 00:21:08,515 Speaker 1: that not anymore. This is with Keith Alberman in sports. 289 00:21:08,595 --> 00:21:11,675 Speaker 1: The twenty twenty three National Football League schedule is out 290 00:21:11,715 --> 00:21:15,395 Speaker 1: and the headlines are more games in Frankfurt, Germany, and 291 00:21:15,475 --> 00:21:19,595 Speaker 1: no conference exclusivity for individual TV networks and a Black 292 00:21:19,715 --> 00:21:22,275 Speaker 1: Friday game for the first time, Miami at the Jats 293 00:21:22,315 --> 00:21:24,995 Speaker 1: at three pm the day after Thanksgiving. Getting a little 294 00:21:25,075 --> 00:21:29,075 Speaker 1: less attention the rather remarkable truth that the NFL schedule, 295 00:21:29,155 --> 00:21:33,235 Speaker 1: regular season and playoffs combined will now feature games on 296 00:21:34,235 --> 00:21:38,235 Speaker 1: every day of the week except Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The 297 00:21:38,315 --> 00:21:43,715 Speaker 1: Sunday regular schedule Sunday nights, Sunday mornings, Monday nights, Thursday nights, 298 00:21:43,995 --> 00:21:47,795 Speaker 1: this new Friday game, and Saturdays during the playoffs. Apart 299 00:21:47,795 --> 00:21:50,475 Speaker 1: from the fact that Friday and Saturday are high school 300 00:21:50,475 --> 00:21:54,195 Speaker 1: and college football days and there are some big college 301 00:21:54,275 --> 00:21:58,115 Speaker 1: rivalry games scheduled for Black Friday, like Texas and Texas 302 00:21:58,155 --> 00:22:00,395 Speaker 1: Tech and Oregon and Oregon State, you have to wonder 303 00:22:00,435 --> 00:22:04,315 Speaker 1: if the NFL is finally risking killing off the proverbial 304 00:22:04,395 --> 00:22:08,235 Speaker 1: goal and Goose. In thirty years, pro football has gone 305 00:22:08,235 --> 00:22:10,635 Speaker 1: from a sport where coverage of the game peaked at 306 00:22:10,635 --> 00:22:14,755 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl, resumed briefly for the college Draft, and 307 00:22:14,835 --> 00:22:19,715 Speaker 1: then went into hibernation until training camps started. Now NFL news, 308 00:22:19,835 --> 00:22:23,835 Speaker 1: NFL Talk, NFL gossip, NFL injuries, NFL trends, NFL ups, 309 00:22:23,995 --> 00:22:26,955 Speaker 1: NFL downs, NFL Why is there any news in the NFL? 310 00:22:27,035 --> 00:22:29,715 Speaker 1: Days that is a twenty four to seven fifty two 311 00:22:29,715 --> 00:22:33,755 Speaker 1: week a year industry, a non stop frenzy during the season. 312 00:22:34,355 --> 00:22:37,195 Speaker 1: The league gets more publicity out of days it is 313 00:22:37,275 --> 00:22:42,315 Speaker 1: not playing than all other sports leagues combined. What happens 314 00:22:42,915 --> 00:22:46,635 Speaker 1: when there are only two days without games being played? 315 00:22:46,795 --> 00:22:50,635 Speaker 1: What happens to the cliched but very real Monday morning 316 00:22:50,755 --> 00:22:57,075 Speaker 1: quarterbacking when they might conceivably soon have a Monday morning game? 317 00:22:58,395 --> 00:23:01,755 Speaker 1: And basketball coach Bob Huggins has been in and out 318 00:23:01,755 --> 00:23:03,955 Speaker 1: of trouble so long that I covered some of it 319 00:23:04,035 --> 00:23:06,995 Speaker 1: when I still have Sports Center in the nineties. Huggins 320 00:23:07,075 --> 00:23:10,075 Speaker 1: eventually got squeezed out as the coach at Cincinnati for 321 00:23:10,115 --> 00:23:13,835 Speaker 1: a dui. But they don't make punishments like they used 322 00:23:13,835 --> 00:23:17,315 Speaker 1: to on Monday. Bob Huggins now coaching West Virginia went 323 00:23:17,355 --> 00:23:22,195 Speaker 1: on the notoriously hate speech filled Bill Cunningham Show on 324 00:23:22,235 --> 00:23:25,235 Speaker 1: a Cincinnati radio station and talked about a game long 325 00:23:25,275 --> 00:23:30,115 Speaker 1: ago between Cincinnati and Xavier University at which quote, rubber 326 00:23:30,235 --> 00:23:35,275 Speaker 1: penises unquote, he said were thrown on the floor. Quoting 327 00:23:35,355 --> 00:23:39,635 Speaker 1: Huggins again. What it was was all those homophobic slurs, 328 00:23:40,035 --> 00:23:46,755 Speaker 1: those Catholic homophobic slurs, I think, unquote. So he was fired, right, 329 00:23:47,275 --> 00:23:51,515 Speaker 1: I mean, this was that rare equal opportunity attack on 330 00:23:51,595 --> 00:23:58,115 Speaker 1: the LGBTQ community and on the Catholic community. Not fired, 331 00:23:59,195 --> 00:24:02,155 Speaker 1: Huggins has to take courses and training in a three 332 00:24:02,275 --> 00:24:05,395 Speaker 1: game suspension and blah blah blah blah blah. And this 333 00:24:05,635 --> 00:24:09,675 Speaker 1: is what it is really all about. West Virginia's athletic department, 334 00:24:09,755 --> 00:24:13,955 Speaker 1: says coach Huggins has agreed to a one million dollar 335 00:24:14,075 --> 00:24:18,595 Speaker 1: pay cut. So if he'd only blasted the Catholics or 336 00:24:18,755 --> 00:24:21,595 Speaker 1: only used the homophobic slur, it would have been what 337 00:24:22,355 --> 00:24:26,595 Speaker 1: a half million dollar pay cut? What a self humiliation 338 00:24:26,795 --> 00:24:44,595 Speaker 1: for West Virginia University. Wow. Now for the daily roundup 339 00:24:44,595 --> 00:24:47,675 Speaker 1: of the miscreens, morons and Dunning Krueger effects specimens who 340 00:24:47,755 --> 00:24:52,755 Speaker 1: constitute two days worst persons in the world, the Brons, 341 00:24:52,795 --> 00:24:56,515 Speaker 1: Congressman James Comer, Senator Ron Johnson, and the other transparent 342 00:24:56,715 --> 00:25:00,035 Speaker 1: frauds trying to make it look like the corruption of 343 00:25:00,075 --> 00:25:03,275 Speaker 1: the Trump family has any kind of parallel in the 344 00:25:03,315 --> 00:25:06,155 Speaker 1: family of President Biden. The goal is not to get 345 00:25:06,195 --> 00:25:09,115 Speaker 1: any Bidens indicted or anything like that. It's just to 346 00:25:09,155 --> 00:25:12,395 Speaker 1: create this fog of everybody does it in order to 347 00:25:12,435 --> 00:25:16,995 Speaker 1: make the Trump crimes seem less odious. Senator Johnson yesterday 348 00:25:17,075 --> 00:25:21,675 Speaker 1: told Fox's incredibly nit witted Maria Bartiromo that the big 349 00:25:21,715 --> 00:25:26,435 Speaker 1: reveal on the Bidens may not include any real evidence. 350 00:25:27,435 --> 00:25:32,075 Speaker 1: You'll just have to infer the evidence of guilt. Of course, 351 00:25:32,115 --> 00:25:34,635 Speaker 1: not a lot of people saw what Johnson said, nor 352 00:25:34,955 --> 00:25:37,915 Speaker 1: did they see the big roll out by Comer, who 353 00:25:37,955 --> 00:25:41,955 Speaker 1: managed to schedule his big anti Biden news conference right 354 00:25:42,035 --> 00:25:46,875 Speaker 1: between the George Santos arraignment and the Trump CNN debacle. 355 00:25:47,435 --> 00:25:49,915 Speaker 1: As I always say, democracy is maintained less by the 356 00:25:49,915 --> 00:25:51,955 Speaker 1: efforts of those of us who fight to protect it 357 00:25:52,355 --> 00:25:54,435 Speaker 1: than it is by the stupidity of those who are 358 00:25:54,435 --> 00:25:58,155 Speaker 1: trying to destroy it, like Senator Johnson and Congressman Comber. 359 00:25:58,995 --> 00:26:01,675 Speaker 1: By the way, Congressman, what about your college girlfriend, Did 360 00:26:01,715 --> 00:26:04,715 Speaker 1: you really beat her up and threaten her life? The 361 00:26:04,795 --> 00:26:07,915 Speaker 1: runner up to late author Alex Haley, who wrote Roots 362 00:26:08,475 --> 00:26:11,555 Speaker 1: and conducted one of the most historically important interviews of 363 00:26:11,595 --> 00:26:14,755 Speaker 1: the twentieth century with Martin Luther King for Playboy in 364 00:26:14,835 --> 00:26:18,475 Speaker 1: nineteen sixty five, and sadly, it sure looks like the 365 00:26:18,515 --> 00:26:23,435 Speaker 1: most famous quote from that interview was made up, apparently 366 00:26:23,475 --> 00:26:27,395 Speaker 1: by Haley. The author Jonathan Aig has found an original 367 00:26:27,475 --> 00:26:30,755 Speaker 1: copy of the eighty four page transcript of that interview 368 00:26:31,075 --> 00:26:34,115 Speaker 1: between Haley and doctor King, including the part where doctor 369 00:26:34,195 --> 00:26:37,555 Speaker 1: King spoke about Malcolm X. The last sentence of that 370 00:26:37,595 --> 00:26:40,595 Speaker 1: part of the transcript reads quote and in his litany 371 00:26:40,595 --> 00:26:44,235 Speaker 1: of expressing the despair of the Negro without offering a 372 00:26:44,315 --> 00:26:48,595 Speaker 1: positive creative approach, I think he falls into a rut sometimes. 373 00:26:49,435 --> 00:26:52,875 Speaker 1: But in Playboy that last sentence has become quote and 374 00:26:52,955 --> 00:26:55,235 Speaker 1: in his litany of articulating the despair of the Negro 375 00:26:55,315 --> 00:26:59,795 Speaker 1: without offering any positive creative alternative, I feel that Malcolm 376 00:26:59,835 --> 00:27:03,475 Speaker 1: has done himself and our people a great disservice. Fiery 377 00:27:03,515 --> 00:27:07,435 Speaker 1: demagogic arey in the black ghettos urging negroes to arm 378 00:27:07,475 --> 00:27:10,435 Speaker 1: themselves and prepare to engage in violence as he has done, 379 00:27:10,435 --> 00:27:14,995 Speaker 1: can reap nothing but grief unquote and from the record, 380 00:27:15,035 --> 00:27:17,635 Speaker 1: it sure looks like Alex Haley made all that up 381 00:27:17,995 --> 00:27:22,035 Speaker 1: and essentially created the friction between the two murdered civil 382 00:27:22,115 --> 00:27:24,995 Speaker 1: rights leaders, a friction that endures to this day and 383 00:27:25,115 --> 00:27:27,955 Speaker 1: is less a friction than it is a fiction. But 384 00:27:28,035 --> 00:27:32,115 Speaker 1: our winner. Tommy Tuberville, the terrible college football coach who 385 00:27:32,155 --> 00:27:35,235 Speaker 1: has somehow become a still worse US senator. He did 386 00:27:35,275 --> 00:27:39,555 Speaker 1: an interview with the NPR station in Birmingham, Alabama. Wait, 387 00:27:39,635 --> 00:27:42,315 Speaker 1: I thought we were supposed to have defunded NFR. Would 388 00:27:42,355 --> 00:27:46,275 Speaker 1: you idiots keep your idiocy straight? Please? Tubberville is not 389 00:27:46,395 --> 00:27:51,835 Speaker 1: happy that this country is punishing white supremacists quote we 390 00:27:52,715 --> 00:27:57,075 Speaker 1: Tubbs said, our military and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin put 391 00:27:57,115 --> 00:28:00,235 Speaker 1: out an order to stand down on all military across 392 00:28:00,275 --> 00:28:04,115 Speaker 1: the country, saying we're going to run out the white nationalists, 393 00:28:04,435 --> 00:28:07,915 Speaker 1: people that don't believe how we believe, and that's not 394 00:28:08,035 --> 00:28:12,235 Speaker 1: how we do it in this country. The startled interviewer 395 00:28:12,275 --> 00:28:15,675 Speaker 1: then asked Tubberville if he was saying that white nationalists 396 00:28:15,755 --> 00:28:19,835 Speaker 1: should be allowed to serve in the US military. They 397 00:28:20,035 --> 00:28:23,195 Speaker 1: call them that. The senator from the nineteenth century, replied, 398 00:28:23,635 --> 00:28:29,035 Speaker 1: I call them Americans and ladies and gentlemen. Whether or 399 00:28:29,035 --> 00:28:31,435 Speaker 1: not you think we have a white supremacist problem in 400 00:28:31,475 --> 00:28:35,915 Speaker 1: the US military, we sure as hell have one in 401 00:28:35,955 --> 00:28:41,475 Speaker 1: the US Senate. Tommy what nationalists and proud of it. 402 00:28:41,875 --> 00:29:00,875 Speaker 1: Tubberville two days, worst person and still ahead on countdown. 403 00:29:00,915 --> 00:29:03,355 Speaker 1: It's not every day when the disc jockey threatens to 404 00:29:03,515 --> 00:29:06,875 Speaker 1: kill the sportscast. And oh, by the way, I was 405 00:29:06,915 --> 00:29:11,595 Speaker 1: the sportscaster things I promise not to tell next. First, 406 00:29:11,595 --> 00:29:13,955 Speaker 1: in each edition of Cantown, we feature a dog. Indeed 407 00:29:14,035 --> 00:29:17,355 Speaker 1: you can help. Every dog has its day. The pounds 408 00:29:17,395 --> 00:29:20,555 Speaker 1: are saturated with great young dogs who should be learning 409 00:29:20,595 --> 00:29:23,395 Speaker 1: to love their new humans, and instead it has become 410 00:29:23,515 --> 00:29:28,475 Speaker 1: killing season. Such is the case in Downey, California. They've 411 00:29:28,555 --> 00:29:30,675 Speaker 1: killed five dogs there in just the last few days. 412 00:29:30,675 --> 00:29:34,355 Speaker 1: And now Lonzo, a year old German shepherd with a 413 00:29:34,355 --> 00:29:38,955 Speaker 1: beautiful coach complete with regal fringe collar near his neck, 414 00:29:39,475 --> 00:29:41,915 Speaker 1: he is on death row there. He is well enough 415 00:29:41,955 --> 00:29:44,035 Speaker 1: behaved that you could go to the Downy shelter and 416 00:29:44,075 --> 00:29:46,795 Speaker 1: take him home with you today. He's great with kids 417 00:29:46,835 --> 00:29:49,235 Speaker 1: eight and up. He's great with adults. He's great with 418 00:29:49,315 --> 00:29:52,555 Speaker 1: female dogs. He gets territorial with other males, but he 419 00:29:52,595 --> 00:29:55,315 Speaker 1: calms down quickly even from that, and is a prime 420 00:29:55,395 --> 00:29:59,155 Speaker 1: candidate for training. There's even an offer to pay someone 421 00:29:59,355 --> 00:30:02,435 Speaker 1: just to foster him for two weeks. Look for him 422 00:30:02,435 --> 00:30:06,195 Speaker 1: on my Twitter feeds, because Lonzo it's a miracle. I 423 00:30:06,355 --> 00:30:23,115 Speaker 1: thank you, and Lonzo thanks you. This remains, in short, 424 00:30:23,555 --> 00:30:28,435 Speaker 1: as terrifying as anything else in my career, death threats, 425 00:30:28,915 --> 00:30:32,915 Speaker 1: fake anthrax. What New York felt like post nine to eleven, 426 00:30:33,275 --> 00:30:36,595 Speaker 1: The frozen feeling of realizing you've made a terrible, damaging 427 00:30:36,635 --> 00:30:40,795 Speaker 1: mistake on a story, even working for Rupert Murdoch, worse 428 00:30:40,915 --> 00:30:45,275 Speaker 1: than that. Forty two years have passed since this event, 429 00:30:45,715 --> 00:30:49,195 Speaker 1: and nothing has dimmed the memory, nothing has reduced the 430 00:30:49,275 --> 00:30:53,075 Speaker 1: palpable sense of anxiety in every joint in my body. 431 00:30:54,355 --> 00:30:58,875 Speaker 1: On Sunday, December twenty first, nineteen eighty, the Oakland Raiders 432 00:30:58,915 --> 00:31:01,435 Speaker 1: defeated the New York Giants thirty three to seventeen to 433 00:31:01,595 --> 00:31:04,435 Speaker 1: end the Giant season at four wins and twelve losses, 434 00:31:04,875 --> 00:31:06,875 Speaker 1: with the most points they had given up in one 435 00:31:06,955 --> 00:31:12,115 Speaker 1: year since nineteen sixty six. I was the backup sportscaster 436 00:31:12,235 --> 00:31:15,475 Speaker 1: at w NEW Radio in New York. We carried the 437 00:31:15,475 --> 00:31:19,075 Speaker 1: Giants game broadcasts. In fact, we had carried them since 438 00:31:19,115 --> 00:31:21,795 Speaker 1: I was two years old. I was now a month 439 00:31:21,835 --> 00:31:24,955 Speaker 1: shy of twenty two, and it being Christmas week. I 440 00:31:24,995 --> 00:31:27,595 Speaker 1: reported bright and early to the studios at forty first 441 00:31:27,595 --> 00:31:31,315 Speaker 1: Street and Third Avenue on Monday, December twenty second. My 442 00:31:31,435 --> 00:31:35,395 Speaker 1: first sports cast was at five thirty am. There was 443 00:31:35,435 --> 00:31:38,675 Speaker 1: a theme song which invoked the name of the regular sportscaster, 444 00:31:38,795 --> 00:31:42,875 Speaker 1: John Kennelly. It said sports and Commentary, and my first 445 00:31:42,875 --> 00:31:44,955 Speaker 1: few weeks filling in that year, I stuck mostly to 446 00:31:44,995 --> 00:31:48,115 Speaker 1: the sports, with just an occasional commentary, but mostly a 447 00:31:48,195 --> 00:31:52,755 Speaker 1: joke or pithy observation. Well kind of pithy. But that 448 00:31:52,835 --> 00:31:56,115 Speaker 1: first weekend of winter, the giant stink was all that 449 00:31:56,195 --> 00:31:57,995 Speaker 1: we could smell in New York, and I felt I 450 00:31:57,995 --> 00:32:01,635 Speaker 1: had to point it out, pointed Lee, and so while 451 00:32:01,675 --> 00:32:04,155 Speaker 1: I observed that there was a positive they had started 452 00:32:04,155 --> 00:32:06,715 Speaker 1: one in eight, but then had actually won three of 453 00:32:06,755 --> 00:32:11,595 Speaker 1: their last seven games, the rest of my commentary was cynical, acerbic, dissatisfied, 454 00:32:11,995 --> 00:32:14,715 Speaker 1: in other words, the average day of the typical New 455 00:32:14,795 --> 00:32:18,275 Speaker 1: York sports fan. I ended my show right on time 456 00:32:18,315 --> 00:32:21,115 Speaker 1: at five thirty five am, and to my surprise, I 457 00:32:21,155 --> 00:32:25,195 Speaker 1: heard the disc jockey skip his usual post sportscast remarks 458 00:32:25,475 --> 00:32:27,875 Speaker 1: and instead simply play the next record, which I think 459 00:32:27,915 --> 00:32:31,435 Speaker 1: was Frank Sinatra's The Way You Look Tonight. We were 460 00:32:31,475 --> 00:32:34,715 Speaker 1: a big band station. I stepped out of the booth 461 00:32:34,715 --> 00:32:37,635 Speaker 1: and took the dozen strides through the newsroom, busy even 462 00:32:37,675 --> 00:32:39,875 Speaker 1: at that hour, with eight or ten staffers, and I 463 00:32:39,955 --> 00:32:42,635 Speaker 1: was sitting down at my desk when the door from 464 00:32:42,715 --> 00:32:47,035 Speaker 1: the main air studio slammed open. In the doorway stood 465 00:32:47,075 --> 00:32:48,995 Speaker 1: the disc jockey, and he had a message for me. 466 00:32:49,275 --> 00:32:54,595 Speaker 1: The message was you punk. The disc jockey's name was 467 00:32:54,715 --> 00:32:57,835 Speaker 1: Ted Brown. On the air, he was You're morning Man, 468 00:32:57,955 --> 00:33:02,475 Speaker 1: Ted Brown, speaking upbeat drivel, mostly to women who loved 469 00:33:02,475 --> 00:33:06,595 Speaker 1: the mellow sound of his voice. Off the air. WNIW 470 00:33:06,875 --> 00:33:10,235 Speaker 1: was his station and the morning show was his show. 471 00:33:10,795 --> 00:33:13,555 Speaker 1: He would fight for it. In fact, he had fought 472 00:33:13,875 --> 00:33:16,395 Speaker 1: at least two news reporters in his time in the 473 00:33:16,435 --> 00:33:20,435 Speaker 1: studio while Frank Sinatra records played on a turntable thirty 474 00:33:20,475 --> 00:33:23,315 Speaker 1: feet away. Ted Brown was a big man six ' 475 00:33:23,355 --> 00:33:26,395 Speaker 1: three six ' four. Maybe by this point I don't know, 476 00:33:26,435 --> 00:33:31,275 Speaker 1: two thirty forty two fifty thick tortoise shell glasses. He 477 00:33:31,315 --> 00:33:35,075 Speaker 1: was a sportsman, a huge gambler racetracks mostly. The Giants 478 00:33:35,075 --> 00:33:37,955 Speaker 1: had begun on WNIW in nineteen sixty one. Ted Brown 479 00:33:37,955 --> 00:33:41,315 Speaker 1: had begun on WNIW in nineteen forty nine. And he 480 00:33:41,475 --> 00:33:44,075 Speaker 1: was tough, and it was not even the New York 481 00:33:44,195 --> 00:33:46,315 Speaker 1: tough I had grown up with. This guy had been 482 00:33:46,315 --> 00:33:49,355 Speaker 1: a tail gunner on a B seventeen during the Second 483 00:33:49,355 --> 00:33:52,155 Speaker 1: World War, and the Nazi shot him down, and they 484 00:33:52,155 --> 00:33:55,395 Speaker 1: took him to Stalog nine see near Leipzig, and they 485 00:33:55,475 --> 00:33:59,115 Speaker 1: kept him there for eighteen months, and basically he chewed 486 00:33:59,195 --> 00:34:02,475 Speaker 1: up and spit out guys like me for breakfast. And 487 00:34:02,595 --> 00:34:06,635 Speaker 1: I respected him. Oh, punk, say you don't like how 488 00:34:06,675 --> 00:34:09,795 Speaker 1: the giants? Did you think any of us do? He 489 00:34:09,875 --> 00:34:13,555 Speaker 1: gestured towards the newscasters and staffers. Nobody looked up. You 490 00:34:13,635 --> 00:34:17,195 Speaker 1: know how easy it is to sit there in a nice, heated, dry, 491 00:34:17,595 --> 00:34:23,715 Speaker 1: comfortable newsroom. I was in Stallog ninecy. His contempt for 492 00:34:23,755 --> 00:34:27,595 Speaker 1: the idea of the newsroom was amazing. You sit here 493 00:34:27,595 --> 00:34:32,955 Speaker 1: in your newsroom and pontificate while men men in helmets 494 00:34:32,995 --> 00:34:37,995 Speaker 1: with mud on them, they're bones breaking, their hearts pounding. 495 00:34:38,315 --> 00:34:41,955 Speaker 1: They are out on the field fighting and tackling and 496 00:34:42,035 --> 00:34:46,235 Speaker 1: working on the field of battle, so you can sit 497 00:34:46,315 --> 00:34:52,715 Speaker 1: here in your newsroom. It was at this point that 498 00:34:52,755 --> 00:34:54,915 Speaker 1: I remembered where I had first seen a photograph of 499 00:34:54,955 --> 00:34:58,035 Speaker 1: Ted Brown. He was in a booth at Yankee Stadium, 500 00:34:58,315 --> 00:35:01,115 Speaker 1: where the Giants played in the nineteen sixties. He was 501 00:35:01,195 --> 00:35:05,075 Speaker 1: the third man, a combination color announcer and host on 502 00:35:05,235 --> 00:35:10,475 Speaker 1: Giants radio broadcasts on WNAW. He was the worst possible 503 00:35:10,515 --> 00:35:12,995 Speaker 1: person to have heard me rip the New York Giants, 504 00:35:13,395 --> 00:35:16,555 Speaker 1: even the four and twelve nineteen eighty New York Giants, 505 00:35:16,635 --> 00:35:20,235 Speaker 1: even if editorially I was completely correct and not nearly 506 00:35:20,235 --> 00:35:22,355 Speaker 1: as hard on the team as its own announcers had 507 00:35:22,395 --> 00:35:26,835 Speaker 1: been on our station the day before? What did you 508 00:35:26,995 --> 00:35:31,115 Speaker 1: do to earn your spot? Here? Punk Ted Brown was 509 00:35:31,155 --> 00:35:34,835 Speaker 1: turning red. One of his fists was already clenched, while 510 00:35:34,875 --> 00:35:37,835 Speaker 1: the other arm cut through the air to emphasize how 511 00:35:37,955 --> 00:35:41,955 Speaker 1: much I sucked. I truly believed he was about to 512 00:35:41,995 --> 00:35:45,155 Speaker 1: take a swing at me. Then from behind him, the 513 00:35:45,235 --> 00:35:48,955 Speaker 1: door from his studio swung open again, and the elderly engineer, 514 00:35:48,955 --> 00:35:51,515 Speaker 1: the man who actually spun the records on Ted's show, 515 00:35:52,035 --> 00:35:55,075 Speaker 1: came through it. Ted I just had to segue out 516 00:35:55,115 --> 00:35:58,475 Speaker 1: of Sinatra to Jimmy Cagney singing Yankee Doodle Dandy. And 517 00:35:58,555 --> 00:36:01,755 Speaker 1: the general manager called and he said, I should tell 518 00:36:01,795 --> 00:36:05,875 Speaker 1: you WNIW does not segue no records, don't do it again. 519 00:36:05,875 --> 00:36:09,115 Speaker 1: You better get back in here. The Cagney's almost finished. 520 00:36:09,795 --> 00:36:13,395 Speaker 1: The engineer then vanished silently back through the door. This 521 00:36:13,435 --> 00:36:16,435 Speaker 1: warning did nothing but make Ted Brown even angrier. The 522 00:36:16,555 --> 00:36:21,795 Speaker 1: general manager. Have you met the general manager? Punk? Jack Fair? 523 00:36:22,395 --> 00:36:25,435 Speaker 1: And Jack Fayer gets in here at eight twenty every 524 00:36:25,435 --> 00:36:30,355 Speaker 1: morning on dot clockwork Punk, when you finish your eight 525 00:36:30,435 --> 00:36:36,195 Speaker 1: thirty sports cast, I'm dragging you in to meet Jack Thayer, 526 00:36:36,675 --> 00:36:41,675 Speaker 1: the general manager. And that punk is when your career 527 00:36:41,875 --> 00:36:47,555 Speaker 1: at WNW Radio will come to an abrupt end. You 528 00:36:47,635 --> 00:36:50,275 Speaker 1: think the New York Giants had a bad nineteen eighty, 529 00:36:50,355 --> 00:36:54,075 Speaker 1: how about your nineteen eighty punk when your career ended? 530 00:36:54,355 --> 00:36:57,035 Speaker 1: Because the real men, the real men are out there 531 00:36:57,035 --> 00:37:01,275 Speaker 1: on the playing field, not sitting inside a noseroom in 532 00:37:01,395 --> 00:37:08,355 Speaker 1: a slatter. This continued for some time. The engineer returned, 533 00:37:08,915 --> 00:37:12,355 Speaker 1: Tennant's there again. I just segued to some mel tourme. 534 00:37:12,795 --> 00:37:15,035 Speaker 1: Ted Thayer wants to talk to you. Thinks maybe you're 535 00:37:15,075 --> 00:37:18,795 Speaker 1: not here, and I'm covering for you. Ted Brown turned 536 00:37:18,875 --> 00:37:21,955 Speaker 1: and swore dark oaths against the engineer, and for that matter, 537 00:37:21,995 --> 00:37:24,955 Speaker 1: against the general manager, Jack Thayer, and for that matter 538 00:37:24,955 --> 00:37:29,035 Speaker 1: against mel Tourmae, you and me, Punk eight thirty five, 539 00:37:29,435 --> 00:37:32,475 Speaker 1: The end of your career, Punk. He lunged at me. 540 00:37:32,515 --> 00:37:34,755 Speaker 1: Suddenly the engineer grabbed him and pulled him back through 541 00:37:34,755 --> 00:37:40,835 Speaker 1: the door. In the newsroom, there were only two sounds, 542 00:37:41,475 --> 00:37:45,835 Speaker 1: one my heart, which I suspect was audible perhaps the 543 00:37:45,875 --> 00:37:50,675 Speaker 1: next block, the other typing. Nobody said a word, Nobody 544 00:37:50,715 --> 00:37:54,115 Speaker 1: looked at me. A phone rang, The production assistant sang 545 00:37:54,115 --> 00:37:57,995 Speaker 1: out w ANYW news. I went over to the newscaster 546 00:37:58,075 --> 00:38:00,435 Speaker 1: who had been the most supportive of me to that point, 547 00:38:00,475 --> 00:38:04,355 Speaker 1: Bob Hagen, and through my shaking, I said thanks for 548 00:38:04,395 --> 00:38:07,995 Speaker 1: the Bob. Bob did not look up from his typewriter 549 00:38:08,595 --> 00:38:12,275 Speaker 1: what he said matter of factly Brown. I said, yes, Brown, 550 00:38:12,515 --> 00:38:15,235 Speaker 1: he's going to get me fired in three hours. Bob 551 00:38:15,235 --> 00:38:18,475 Speaker 1: Hagen laughed, Now he's not, I said, he just spent 552 00:38:18,555 --> 00:38:20,555 Speaker 1: I don't know how many minutes he spent three records 553 00:38:20,555 --> 00:38:23,795 Speaker 1: screaming at me. Didn't you hear him? I heard him, 554 00:38:24,235 --> 00:38:27,035 Speaker 1: we all heard him. We've all heard him every time 555 00:38:27,075 --> 00:38:29,515 Speaker 1: he said that. He said that to every one of 556 00:38:29,595 --> 00:38:32,115 Speaker 1: us out here. He said that about every one of 557 00:38:32,155 --> 00:38:34,235 Speaker 1: us out here. He took a swing at eyes grow 558 00:38:34,355 --> 00:38:37,355 Speaker 1: over there. What was it, Jimmy two months ago? Ignore him? 559 00:38:38,635 --> 00:38:40,555 Speaker 1: I said, I failed to see why any of what 560 00:38:40,635 --> 00:38:43,515 Speaker 1: he had told me should encourage me to ignore Ted Brown. 561 00:38:43,795 --> 00:38:45,955 Speaker 1: When we had a meeting with the general manager at 562 00:38:45,955 --> 00:38:51,475 Speaker 1: eight thirty five, Bob Hagen now stopped typhing and smiled 563 00:38:51,595 --> 00:38:56,795 Speaker 1: up at me reassuringly from his chair. Keith, you do 564 00:38:56,835 --> 00:39:01,915 Speaker 1: a good job. Ted is nuts. Ted is mean. Ted 565 00:39:02,035 --> 00:39:05,115 Speaker 1: is a crazy Giants fan. Ted is all so still 566 00:39:05,115 --> 00:39:06,875 Speaker 1: bitter that he's not on the radio broadcast of the 567 00:39:06,915 --> 00:39:10,515 Speaker 1: Giants games. But Ted has also been doing morning radio 568 00:39:10,675 --> 00:39:15,835 Speaker 1: almost every day since nineteen forty five. Keith, that's thirty 569 00:39:15,875 --> 00:39:17,835 Speaker 1: five years of getting up in the middle of the night, 570 00:39:18,275 --> 00:39:23,795 Speaker 1: and many many years ago, Keith, Ted stopped remembering things 571 00:39:24,915 --> 00:39:27,715 Speaker 1: like what somebody said on his show. He doesn't remember, 572 00:39:28,435 --> 00:39:31,875 Speaker 1: he won't remember. Just finish off the next sportscast with 573 00:39:31,955 --> 00:39:35,595 Speaker 1: one of your clever, funny, little kicker stories. And even 574 00:39:35,635 --> 00:39:37,595 Speaker 1: if he somehow remembers what you said about the Giants, 575 00:39:37,635 --> 00:39:40,755 Speaker 1: when he hears a good laugh, all he'll remember is 576 00:39:40,795 --> 00:39:45,155 Speaker 1: the laugh. I tried to be respectful of Bob, but 577 00:39:45,235 --> 00:39:47,915 Speaker 1: I told him I found all this hard to believe. Keith, 578 00:39:47,915 --> 00:39:52,875 Speaker 1: he also drinks, he has nightmares, he has pow nightmares, 579 00:39:53,475 --> 00:39:56,915 Speaker 1: and he gets up at three am every day. He 580 00:39:56,955 --> 00:40:01,875 Speaker 1: does not imprint new memories anymore. But no, why should 581 00:40:01,915 --> 00:40:03,555 Speaker 1: you listen to me. I've only been on his show 582 00:40:03,595 --> 00:40:07,395 Speaker 1: for ten years? Why would I know? I'm telling you 583 00:40:07,435 --> 00:40:09,875 Speaker 1: get a good funny kicker for the six thirty and 584 00:40:09,915 --> 00:40:15,075 Speaker 1: he'll love you. I nodded grimly. I did not believe 585 00:40:15,075 --> 00:40:18,155 Speaker 1: Bob Hagen, but I knew he meant well, and anyway, 586 00:40:18,235 --> 00:40:22,315 Speaker 1: he had started to type again. The clock now moved 587 00:40:22,355 --> 00:40:26,595 Speaker 1: impossibly quickly. Incredibly, I did find just the kind of funny, 588 00:40:26,675 --> 00:40:29,955 Speaker 1: clever kicker story Bob suggested I should use to close 589 00:40:29,995 --> 00:40:33,075 Speaker 1: the six thirty sports cast. I minimized my assault on 590 00:40:33,155 --> 00:40:35,075 Speaker 1: the Giants and then finished off my report with some 591 00:40:35,275 --> 00:40:38,355 Speaker 1: story that shed a good light on Montclair State College 592 00:40:38,395 --> 00:40:42,195 Speaker 1: in New Jersey. I could not have known, and I 593 00:40:42,315 --> 00:40:47,275 Speaker 1: swear I did not know that Ted Brown's sister had 594 00:40:47,315 --> 00:40:52,075 Speaker 1: graduated from Montclair State College in New Jersey. I finished 595 00:40:52,075 --> 00:40:54,755 Speaker 1: off the sports cast with the story something that made 596 00:40:54,835 --> 00:40:57,515 Speaker 1: Montclair State. Look good, a little chuckle, and then Keith o' 597 00:40:57,595 --> 00:41:02,515 Speaker 1: rimman for John Kennelly on the Ted Brown Show ominously 598 00:41:02,955 --> 00:41:06,515 Speaker 1: again to my terrored Brown now said nothing on the air. 599 00:41:06,635 --> 00:41:08,595 Speaker 1: I could not see him through the window into the 600 00:41:08,595 --> 00:41:11,675 Speaker 1: main air studio. The engineer played a record instead. It 601 00:41:11,715 --> 00:41:15,715 Speaker 1: may have been the Montavani strings play the Beatles. I 602 00:41:15,755 --> 00:41:18,635 Speaker 1: opened the door back to the newsroom slowly and with trepidation. 603 00:41:19,155 --> 00:41:21,875 Speaker 1: I crouched as I moved back towards my desk. And 604 00:41:21,955 --> 00:41:24,435 Speaker 1: that's when it happened. The door from the main air 605 00:41:24,475 --> 00:41:27,795 Speaker 1: studio slammed open again. It was Ted Brown again. Where 606 00:41:27,835 --> 00:41:32,715 Speaker 1: is he? Where is he? Montclair State? My sister went 607 00:41:32,755 --> 00:41:35,675 Speaker 1: to Montclair State. What a story, what a great laugh, 608 00:41:35,795 --> 00:41:39,435 Speaker 1: perfectly delivered. My god, that was the best sportscast we 609 00:41:39,555 --> 00:41:41,955 Speaker 1: have ever had on this station. Don't you think so? Prely? 610 00:41:42,555 --> 00:41:44,675 Speaker 1: God love you kid? What a tell it? I laughed 611 00:41:44,715 --> 00:41:49,955 Speaker 1: out loud, kid, I don't laugh out loud. It was 612 00:41:49,995 --> 00:41:52,875 Speaker 1: the same Ted Brown. I stole a quick glance at 613 00:41:52,915 --> 00:41:54,395 Speaker 1: the newsroom to see if this whole thing was some 614 00:41:54,515 --> 00:41:58,035 Speaker 1: kind of act being filmed for a hidden camera TV series. 615 00:41:59,115 --> 00:42:03,315 Speaker 1: Nobody looked up again. Nobody looked up. Ted Brown, the 616 00:42:03,315 --> 00:42:05,875 Speaker 1: man who an hour before was to beat me up 617 00:42:06,275 --> 00:42:09,275 Speaker 1: and get me fired, was now repeating again and again 618 00:42:09,315 --> 00:42:12,435 Speaker 1: that I had just delivered the best sports cast in 619 00:42:12,475 --> 00:42:17,275 Speaker 1: the history of WNW radio. That's when his engineer came 620 00:42:17,315 --> 00:42:19,715 Speaker 1: back in. He had segued from Montavani to Perry Como, 621 00:42:19,755 --> 00:42:22,515 Speaker 1: and the general manager had called, and now Ted Brown's 622 00:42:22,555 --> 00:42:28,435 Speaker 1: eyes widened behind the thick glasses. The general manager, Jack Thayer, say, Keith, 623 00:42:28,795 --> 00:42:31,035 Speaker 1: have you ever met Jack Thayer? This gives me a 624 00:42:31,075 --> 00:42:33,475 Speaker 1: great idea. Jack Thayer comes in here every morning at 625 00:42:33,555 --> 00:42:37,275 Speaker 1: eight twenty like clockwork. Look, I love John Kennelly, he's great, 626 00:42:37,275 --> 00:42:40,995 Speaker 1: but you you were exactly the kind of new, fresh, 627 00:42:40,995 --> 00:42:43,115 Speaker 1: young voice we need on this radio station. Damn it, 628 00:42:43,275 --> 00:42:46,115 Speaker 1: I need on my show. When Jack Thayer comes in 629 00:42:46,115 --> 00:42:47,635 Speaker 1: here at eight twenty this morning, you and I are 630 00:42:47,635 --> 00:42:49,835 Speaker 1: going right into his office and we're gonna get you 631 00:42:49,835 --> 00:42:52,115 Speaker 1: your own sports cast on my show. We can do 632 00:42:52,235 --> 00:42:53,995 Speaker 1: two sports casts at hour. We'll take it out of 633 00:42:53,995 --> 00:42:57,675 Speaker 1: the Stock Report Montclair stage. I'll get you a contract. 634 00:42:57,675 --> 00:43:00,955 Speaker 1: You and Kennelly will seventy five grand being up for you. Kid. 635 00:43:01,035 --> 00:43:04,915 Speaker 1: You're gonna hit the big time here, my friend, and 636 00:43:04,995 --> 00:43:08,515 Speaker 1: out the engineer came again. Jack Thayer had again called 637 00:43:08,555 --> 00:43:11,795 Speaker 1: in fourth time that I knew of. He really needed 638 00:43:11,795 --> 00:43:14,475 Speaker 1: Ted back in the studio to talk to the women. 639 00:43:15,315 --> 00:43:19,715 Speaker 1: Ted Brown happily shouted okay, okay, and began to back 640 00:43:19,795 --> 00:43:23,195 Speaker 1: up into the doorway. The look in his eyes towards 641 00:43:23,275 --> 00:43:30,955 Speaker 1: me was one of unimaginable love. Commita come here, wait, 642 00:43:31,035 --> 00:43:33,115 Speaker 1: come here, come here, come here, and he lunged at 643 00:43:33,115 --> 00:43:36,115 Speaker 1: me and grabbed me into a bear hug. Just brilliant, 644 00:43:36,275 --> 00:43:39,355 Speaker 1: Montclair State. I gotta call my sister and tell you. 645 00:43:39,795 --> 00:43:47,075 Speaker 1: Seeing Jack's office at eight thirty five, I stood there, 646 00:43:47,795 --> 00:43:51,595 Speaker 1: having now been pummeled by two hurricanes arriving from different 647 00:43:51,635 --> 00:43:56,195 Speaker 1: directions in the span of one hour. All was silent 648 00:43:56,355 --> 00:44:01,235 Speaker 1: in the WNAW newsroom again but for the typing. But 649 00:44:01,475 --> 00:44:04,635 Speaker 1: it was silent only for a moment. That's when Bob 650 00:44:04,715 --> 00:44:08,275 Speaker 1: Hagen addressed me again. He did not look up. All 651 00:44:08,315 --> 00:44:27,755 Speaker 1: he said was Keith, he won't remember that either. I've 652 00:44:27,795 --> 00:44:29,515 Speaker 1: done all the damage I can do. Here. Here are 653 00:44:29,515 --> 00:44:32,235 Speaker 1: the credits. Most of the music arrange produced and performed 654 00:44:32,275 --> 00:44:34,555 Speaker 1: by Brian Ray and John Phillip Shanelle, who are the 655 00:44:34,595 --> 00:44:41,075 Speaker 1: Countdown musical directors or orchestration and keyboards. Orchestration in English 656 00:44:41,435 --> 00:44:44,635 Speaker 1: by John Phillip Shanelle, guitars, bass and drums by Brian Ray, 657 00:44:44,755 --> 00:44:48,755 Speaker 1: produced by Tko Brothers. Other Beethoven selections have been arranged 658 00:44:48,795 --> 00:44:51,955 Speaker 1: and performed by the group No Horns Allowed. The sports 659 00:44:52,035 --> 00:44:55,235 Speaker 1: music is the Olberman theme from ESPN two. It was 660 00:44:55,275 --> 00:44:59,075 Speaker 1: written by Mitch Warren Davis courtesy of ESPN, Inc. Musical 661 00:44:59,075 --> 00:45:02,275 Speaker 1: comments from Nancy Faust. The best baseball stadium organist ever. 662 00:45:02,555 --> 00:45:05,395 Speaker 1: Our announcer today was Tony Kornheiser and and everything else. 663 00:45:05,475 --> 00:45:08,675 Speaker 1: It's pretty much my fault. So that's countdown for this 664 00:45:08,715 --> 00:45:11,835 Speaker 1: the eight hundred and fifty sixth day since Donald Trump's 665 00:45:11,875 --> 00:45:14,675 Speaker 1: first attempted coup against the democratically elected government of the 666 00:45:14,795 --> 00:45:18,515 Speaker 1: United States. Don't forget to keep arresting him while we 667 00:45:18,595 --> 00:45:21,955 Speaker 1: still can. A little bonus to end this edition one 668 00:45:21,995 --> 00:45:25,995 Speaker 1: of those WNAW sportscast from the early eighties, complete with 669 00:45:26,035 --> 00:45:30,315 Speaker 1: a play by play clip from my first boss, Sam Rosen, 670 00:45:30,715 --> 00:45:33,715 Speaker 1: who is still covering the team that you'll hear him 671 00:45:33,755 --> 00:45:36,875 Speaker 1: cover in the clip. The next scheduled countdown is tomorrow, 672 00:45:36,915 --> 00:45:39,315 Speaker 1: and until then, I'm Keith Olberman. Good morning, good afternoon, 673 00:45:39,715 --> 00:45:41,435 Speaker 1: good night, and good luck. 674 00:45:47,915 --> 00:45:53,035 Speaker 3: I'm Dave Spencer, WNWWS and now WNAW sportsm commentary with 675 00:45:53,155 --> 00:45:57,195 Speaker 3: John Kenner and good morning Keith Olberman for Big John. 676 00:45:57,275 --> 00:45:59,835 Speaker 3: Sports is brought to you by Amtrak America is getting 677 00:45:59,835 --> 00:46:03,115 Speaker 3: into training with Metro Iners service thirteen times every business 678 00:46:03,195 --> 00:46:05,275 Speaker 3: day to Philadelphia. 679 00:46:04,835 --> 00:46:05,795 Speaker 1: Run from Penn Station. 680 00:46:05,915 --> 00:46:07,995 Speaker 3: And if you were there last night, you probably heard 681 00:46:08,075 --> 00:46:11,635 Speaker 3: some noise from upstairs. It was Ranger fans celebrating the 682 00:46:11,675 --> 00:46:12,995 Speaker 3: new year a little early. 683 00:46:13,315 --> 00:46:16,515 Speaker 1: Here sod and center. Thetinelli left wing feats Rake Whide 684 00:46:16,555 --> 00:46:19,195 Speaker 1: An Ice Club. Two seconds to go and that's it. 685 00:46:20,995 --> 00:46:24,635 Speaker 1: A standing ovation for the Rangers who have defeated the 686 00:46:24,675 --> 00:46:26,315 Speaker 1: Island Earths six to four. 687 00:46:26,795 --> 00:46:28,795 Speaker 3: The Sam Rose and play by play here last night 688 00:46:28,875 --> 00:46:30,835 Speaker 3: as the Rangers wrapped up a marvel as six to 689 00:46:30,875 --> 00:46:33,355 Speaker 3: four victory over the Islanders, their first win over the 690 00:46:33,395 --> 00:46:35,835 Speaker 3: Cup champs in nine games. It was tied four to 691 00:46:35,875 --> 00:46:37,755 Speaker 3: four with a little over three minutes left when Andre 692 00:46:37,875 --> 00:46:41,315 Speaker 3: Dori fed Dave Silk, Silk slapped Don Maloney put home 693 00:46:41,355 --> 00:46:44,075 Speaker 3: the rebound and the Rangers were head to stay. Barry 694 00:46:44,115 --> 00:46:46,675 Speaker 3: Beck had a goal to celebrate his return from the suspension. 695 00:46:46,715 --> 00:46:49,395 Speaker 3: Dugue had a pair to up his total to twenty two. 696 00:46:50,035 --> 00:46:52,315 Speaker 3: The Rangers are going to trade Dean Telaphus and Jerry 697 00:46:52,315 --> 00:46:55,595 Speaker 3: Gillis today to Quebec for Robbie Fattorik. This guy is 698 00:46:55,675 --> 00:46:58,555 Speaker 3: your class a diminutive center here. He works very hard, 699 00:46:58,675 --> 00:47:01,075 Speaker 3: has a long track record of busting his body parts 700 00:47:01,075 --> 00:47:02,555 Speaker 3: for some pretty mediocre teams. 701 00:47:02,875 --> 00:47:04,035 Speaker 1: He is thirty years old. 702 00:47:04,435 --> 00:47:07,115 Speaker 3: He Brooks thinks he will help herb Brooks should try 703 00:47:07,115 --> 00:47:09,475 Speaker 3: to get Wayne Gretzky. Now what would he cost anyway? 704 00:47:09,475 --> 00:47:13,075 Speaker 3: A few billion, fifteen players and Brooks first born. He'd 705 00:47:13,075 --> 00:47:15,715 Speaker 3: be worth it. Gretzky got five more goals last night 706 00:47:15,715 --> 00:47:18,515 Speaker 3: at Edmondson's seven to five win over Philadelphia, meaning he 707 00:47:18,595 --> 00:47:21,555 Speaker 3: cracked the fifty goal mark in thirty nine games, eleven 708 00:47:21,595 --> 00:47:24,555 Speaker 3: games faster than the previous record, which was shared by 709 00:47:24,635 --> 00:47:28,635 Speaker 3: Rocket Rashard and Mike Bossi. Gretzky's biggest fans, his parents, 710 00:47:28,675 --> 00:47:30,875 Speaker 3: were to flight to Vancouver tonight to watch him play 711 00:47:30,875 --> 00:47:33,075 Speaker 3: there and try to get the record. He says, now 712 00:47:33,075 --> 00:47:35,235 Speaker 3: he's almost sorry he got the five last night. He 713 00:47:35,395 --> 00:47:39,555 Speaker 3: didn't want to disappoint them. Neither local basketball team disappoints. 714 00:47:39,595 --> 00:47:46,075 Speaker 3: That and more after this from Amtrak. 715 00:47:43,635 --> 00:47:45,875 Speaker 1: Now there's a brand new Express service. 716 00:47:50,275 --> 00:47:52,675 Speaker 3: The New York Rodies, better known here as the Knicks, 717 00:47:52,715 --> 00:47:55,515 Speaker 3: come from a twelve point halftime deficit to beat Cleveland 718 00:47:55,515 --> 00:47:57,515 Speaker 3: in overtime last night by one hundred and ten to 719 00:47:57,515 --> 00:47:59,995 Speaker 3: one hundred and eight. The Knickerbockers are now a game 720 00:48:00,115 --> 00:48:02,915 Speaker 3: above five hundred on the road and a game below 721 00:48:02,955 --> 00:48:06,155 Speaker 3: five hundred at home. Not supposed to happen in the NBA. 722 00:48:06,555 --> 00:48:08,515 Speaker 3: The Nets won last night, too, only they did it 723 00:48:08,555 --> 00:48:11,475 Speaker 3: at home, one thirty to one nineteen over Detroit. After 724 00:48:11,515 --> 00:48:13,755 Speaker 3: one and a half periods of feeling out, the Nets 725 00:48:13,795 --> 00:48:15,715 Speaker 3: took command. Their lead down the stretch was in the 726 00:48:15,795 --> 00:48:18,595 Speaker 3: high teens. The Liberty Bowl last night was supposed to 727 00:48:18,635 --> 00:48:22,315 Speaker 3: be an Ohio State blowout, but quarterback Arch Schleister inconveniently 728 00:48:22,315 --> 00:48:24,355 Speaker 3: had a bad first half and the Buckeyes wound up 729 00:48:24,395 --> 00:48:26,515 Speaker 3: beating the Navy by only thirty one to twenty eight. 730 00:48:26,915 --> 00:48:29,715 Speaker 3: This was rather unfortunate if you took Ohio State, they 731 00:48:29,755 --> 00:48:31,195 Speaker 3: were fourteen point favorites. 732 00:48:31,675 --> 00:48:32,435 Speaker 1: Not quite. 733 00:48:32,835 --> 00:48:35,275 Speaker 3: Finally, they call it disastro turf, and the closer and 734 00:48:35,315 --> 00:48:37,195 Speaker 3: closer we get to game day, the more and more 735 00:48:37,315 --> 00:48:39,595 Speaker 3: likely it is the Giants won't get to practice on it. 736 00:48:39,955 --> 00:48:42,115 Speaker 3: As the steady rains continue in the Bay Area. The 737 00:48:42,115 --> 00:48:45,155 Speaker 3: forty nine ers continue to suggest that the Giants cancel 738 00:48:45,235 --> 00:48:48,195 Speaker 3: their scheduled Saturday practice at Cattlestick Park for the good 739 00:48:48,275 --> 00:48:50,915 Speaker 3: of the bad field, which means that the first time 740 00:48:50,955 --> 00:48:54,035 Speaker 3: folks like Rob Carpenter will get their feet wet literally 741 00:48:54,555 --> 00:48:57,035 Speaker 3: will be when they come out for the game Sunday afternoon. 742 00:48:57,755 --> 00:49:00,555 Speaker 3: That sport's brought to you by Amtrak America is getting 743 00:49:00,555 --> 00:49:03,515 Speaker 3: into trading with Metro Liner service thirteen times every business 744 00:49:03,595 --> 00:49:06,595 Speaker 3: day to Philadelphia. I'm Keith Olberman for John Kenney on 745 00:49:06,675 --> 00:49:10,875 Speaker 3: the Ted Brown Show. 746 00:49:07,675 --> 00:49:16,195 Speaker 1: I'm good morning everybody. Thank you Keith. It's twenty one 747 00:49:16,275 --> 00:49:21,435 Speaker 1: before seven. Countdown with Keith Olberman is a production of iHeartRadio. 748 00:49:21,715 --> 00:49:27,035 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 749 00:49:27,155 --> 00:49:29,115 Speaker 1: or wherever you get your podcasts.